Refrigerating apparatus



1931- J. c. SCOVEL, JR 1,831,468

I REFRIGERATING APPARATUS v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 11. 1927 Jbhw C 500066, Jr,

Nov. 10, 1931. J. c. scovEL, JR

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 11, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 10, 1931; J. c. sc vEL, JR 1,831,468

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 11. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 having means for separating Patented Nov. 10, 1931 UNI-TED JOHN o. scovrm, an, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A ssIeN on To run onnamnny, PACKAGE "MFG. COMPANY, or cnrcae o, ILLINOIS, a coRPonA'rIoNfor ILLIno'Is mmmmm nrranarus Application filed November 11, 1927. Serial No. 282,502}. 1

'The invention relates to refrigerating apparatus, and more particularly to an automatic control for the supply and return of refrigerant to adapted'to provide correct operating conditions therein. I

Heretofore it has been the practice to connect the several devices commonly required to control refrigerating apparatus,

.- such as ice cream freezers, milk coolers, and

similar apparatus, as separate units with separate pipe connections, resulting in a multiplicity of pipe connections of unsightly appearance and having many joints liable ,to leakage and inconvenient to assemble or repair.

It is the general object of this invention to combine in aunitary construction all devices necessary for the control of the supply and return ofa refrigerant to and from a refrigerating unit.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a control of new and improved construction arran ed to maintain a refrigerant at a predetermined-level in relation to the expansion chamber of sucha unit.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an automatic control for refrigeratmg apparatus embodying means for protectmg the compressor against pumping back liquid refrigerant.

It is another object of the invention to provide an automatic control for refrigerating apparatus embodying a refrigerant chamber liquid refrigerant from the expanding gas.

In pursuance of the foregoing and other objects I am to provide a control of unitary construction embodying an accumulator cylinder adapted to be positioned adjacent to a freezer, or other refrigerating unit, and having an automatic expansion valve at its lower end arranged to control the admission of liquid refrigerant to the refrigerating unit. and maintain its level therein. together with an automatically regulating suction pressure valve at the upper end of the accumulator arranged to govern the pressure and temperature in the unit. means intermediate said valves for separating liquid refrigerant from and from a refrigerating unitthe exhausting gas'and returning it to the liquid compartment of. the accumulator, a manually operable valve controlling the suction return ofrefrigerant from the accumulator, and safety means for preventing excessivev pressure within the accumulator and the refrigerating unit.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings: I Figure 1 is a front elevation of an ice sis so i

cream freezer embodying the preferred form v of the invention. Fig. ;2 is a vertical central section through the control mechanism shown in Fig. '1, a fragmentary portion of the freezer cylinder together with the outlet therefrom being shown in elevation. This view is diagrammatic in the sense that some'parts are disppsed angularly to bring them in a common ans. 1 p Fig. 3 is'a section taken along the line 3- 3 of Fig.2. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the control shown in Fig. 2 (looking upwardly).

Fig. 5 is a plan .view of the control shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail of the automatic valve device shown at the upper end of Figz-Q.

Fig. 7 is a section taken along the line 77 of Fig. 6. 1

While I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed but aim to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. I

or purposes of disclosure a preferred form of the invention is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 associated with an ice cream freezer of the horizontalztype. It will be understood that the invention may be employed as advantageously for the control of the refrigerant in other cooling devices, such as milk coolers for example: The freezer herein illustrated is provided with a liquid intake pipe 1 lead"- ing to the refrigerant expansion chamber of the freezer, and a suction exhaust pipe 2 leading therefrom. The control is illustrated as comprising in a. unitary structure a chambered casing or accumulator body 3 positioned immediately adjacent to and preferably above the freezer, and having liquid and gaseous refrigerant governing devices mounted thereon. This structure may be supported by means of brackets 4 connected to the freezer body and a pedestal 5.

Liquid refrigerant under pressure is conducted into the lower portion of the accumulator cylinder 3, and fed out again to the freezer through the pipe 1. The refrigerant is admitted to the accumulator through a manually operable control valve 6. preferably having a screen 7 encased therewith and positioned between the inlet connection 8 and the valve orifice, and through an automatically regulated expansion valve 9 discharging into the lower end of the accumulator cylinder.

As shown in Fig. 2 the expansion valve 9 is enclosed in a casinglO having a radial flange 11 at the upper end thereof which is bolted into engagement with the lower head 3* of the accumulator cylinder. The casing 10 has a central bore 12 into which a sleeve I like member 13 extends through the side wall of the casing. This sleeve is closed at its inher end 14 and has a downwardly opening conically shaped valve port 15 positioned axially of the bore 12. The interior of the sleeve 13 is in communication with the discharge end of the control valve 6 by means of a port 16.

The port conicallv shaped valve member 17 mounted on a yoke-like structure 18 in a manner such as is described in my application Serial No. 121.085. filed July 8, 1926, the-valve being normally pressed into engagement with the sleeve 13 by means of a spring 19 positioned between a. collar on the valve and a plug 20 screwed into a closure 20 on the lower end of the casing 10.

The valve is actuated to open the port 15 by means of a plunger 21 slidably mounted in the head 3 of the accumulator and extending therethrough, the upper end of said plunger being engaged by an arm 22 pivotally mounted at 23 on the inner wall of the head 3. The arm 22 is actuated by means of a float 24 mounted at the. one end of an arm 25 which is pivoted at its other end at 26 to a post 2'? extending upwardly from the head 3. The arms 22 and 25 are interconnected by means of a link 28 so that upon a lowering of the float 24 due to the descent of the refrigerant level-in the liquid chamber 10. the valve 17 is unseated to admit liquid refrigerant to the chamber through the port 15, bore 12 and a port 29 in the head 3. Liquid from the accumulator passes on to the expansion chamber of the freezer through the pipe 15 is controlled by means of a...

1 mentioned hereinbefore, which pipe as shown in Fig. 2 connects with the lower portion of the cylinder 3.

The suction pipe 2 from the expansion chamber of the freezer leads to the upper portion of the accumulator cylinder 3 and is extended into the cylinder by a portion 30 terminating near to the opposite wall of the cylinder. This construction causes any slugs of liquid refrigerant in the gaseous exhaust from the expansion chamber to be discharged against the inner wall surface 31 of the cylinder after. which it trickles downwardly, separated from the gas which passes npwardly out of the cylinder.

An inclined batlle plate 32 is provided within the cylinder and above the float 24 to prevent liquid ammonia from the lower portion of the cylinder 3 being thrown upwardly into the upper gas chamber with the boiling of the liquid refrigerant. The baflle plate is provided with a drain outlet 33 to permit the liquid separated from the gas in the suction return upper portion to drain back into the lower liquid portion of the accumulator, and is also provided with a central aperture 33 through which the gas rising from the liquid ammonia below it may pass into the upper gas chamber.

To control the pressure and temperature at which the refrigerant evaporates, the invention contemplates both manual and automatic means for controlling the outlet of the gas from the upper portion of the accumulator to a suction pipe 34 which leads to the compressor. In the preferred form of the invention the manual and automatic control means, together with an automatic safety device, are mounted on the upper head 3 of the accumulator casing. The manual control c comprises a valve 35 secured on the inner end of a stem 36 which extends through a valve casing37 mounted in a side wall of the head 3". The'st-em 36 is arranged to be operated by means of abell crank 38 which is pivotally mounted at 3901141 swinging yoke 40, the arm ends of which yoke are pivotally mounted on the head 3 at 41. 'A short arm 42 of the bell crank is pivotally connected to the outer end of the stem 36, a longer arm 43 of the bell crank being provided to serve as a manual control handle. It will be apparent that by means of this operating mechanism a manual control is provided for the valve 35, which control embodies a toggle like device for seating the valve against an annular valve seat 44.

The automatic regulating suction pressure valve disclosed herein and designated generally as 45 is a modification of the one i disclosed in my application Serial No.

120,592, filed July 6, 1926, Patent lilo. 1,753,536 dated April 8, 1930, and comprises a sleeve like casing 46 positioned in a bore 47 in the head 3", which casing has a radially extendin flange 48 abutting the outer face of said hea As shown most clearly in Fig. 6, a hollow cylindrical plunger 49 is positioned in the bore 50 in the casing 46 and is normally urged upwardly against a diaphragm 51 by means of a spring 52 positioned intermediate the plunger and a lug 53 screw threaded into the lower end 0 the casing 46. The diaphragm 51 is mounted between the flange 48 and a radial flange 54 on a sleeve like head 55, the flanges 48 and 54' with the diaphragm therebetween being secured to the head 3* as by means of bolts 56. A plunger 57 is slidably mounted in the bore 58 of the head 55 and is normally urged downwardly against the diaphragm by means ofa spring 59 interposed between the plunger and a cap 60. ThlS cap 60 is preferably screw threaded onto the head 55 so as to permit of adjustment to vary the spring tension on the plunger 57.

The valve casing 46 is preferably provided with annular ports 61 and 62, one of which is positioned so as to be closed by the lower end of the valve member in its lowermost position. The ann 1 1' ports 61 and 62 connect with a chamber 63 in the head 3 by means of a plura ty' of radial ports 64 and 65. Ports 66 in t evalve plunger connect the bore thereof with an annular groove 67 which is adapted to register with the annular ports 62 when the valve is opened.

The suction pipe 34 is in communication with the chamber 63. Thus, as will be apparcut, the valve 45 is in serial relation with the valve 35 and is arranged to function only when the manually operated valve is open. Preferably a safety valve device 68 is mounted on the head 3 in direct communication with the interior of the accumulator and arranged to by-pass exhaust the accumulator into the suction system, should the pressure in the accumulator rise above an allowable limit when the manually controlled valve is closed.

lVith the refrigerant supply control valves mounted on the head 3*Iand the exhaustcontrol valves mounted on the head 3 a construction is provided which permits of ready removal of the valve structures for inspection, adjustment and cleaning. As illustrated herein, collars 69 and 70-are screwed thereto on the opposite ends of the casing 3 and bolts 71 provided to clamp the heads detachably to the casing.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention herein disclosed provides a control. for refrigerant apparatus of a unitary construction, which control embodies an accumulator having a liquid refrigerant chamber together with automatic means for controlling the admission of a liquid refrigerant to the accumulator, and an upper gas chamber together with means for separating liquid refrigerant from the exhausting gas,

inder arranged to actuate -valve,

49 when the la t6 isthe valves 35, 45 and to embodying a liquid and automatic means for gas. Such a control permits of accurate automatic regulation of the conditions in the expansion chamber of the refrigerating unit and provides an apparatus conveniently located with respect to the unit and adapted to permit of ready manipulation. K

I claim as my invention:

1. A unitary control comprising, in combination, a cylinder having heads closing the opposite ends thereof, a manually controlled expansion valve and an automatically actuated regulating valve mounted on the lower head of said cylinder and arranged to control the inlet of liquid refrigerant thereto, a float device within the lower end of said cylsaid automatic a manually controlled exhaust valve and anautomatically re ulating suction ressufe salve mounted on the upper head 0 said cy in tending through one side wall of said cylinder and having its inner end adjacent the opposite side wall, and a bafile plate disposed within said cylinder above said float.

2.. A 'control of the character described comprising, in combination, a vertically disposed cylinder having detachable heads secured to the opposite ends thereof, a manually controlled expansion valve and an automatically controlled admission valve mountcylinder arranged to actuate said admission valve, a manually controlled gas exhaust valve, an automatically regulating suction valve, and a safety upper head, said manual exhaust valve and automatic suction valve beingin serial con nection with a suction line to a compressor.

3. Ina control of the character described, a mechanism for controlling the return of a refrigerant from a refrigerating apparatus comprising a casing, a manually operated shut-oil valve for controlling the exhaust of a gaseous refrigerant from said casing, an automatic pressure valve in serial relation with .said shut-off Valve, and an automatic safety valve in direct communication with said casing.

4. In a control of the character described, the combination of a casing forming a portion of an exhaust passage from a refrigerating apparatus to the suction side pressor, a manually operated shut-off valve for controlling the discharge of gas from said casing, and an automatically regulating suction pressure valve for governing the pressure in said casing operable when said shut-olf valve isopen, said valves being mounted in a unitary structure forming a portion of said casing.

5. In combination,

refrigerant expansion chamber,

er, an exhaust pipe from a freezer exvalve mounted on the of a coman ice cream freezer a control means for the supply and 40 a vice to an intermediate portion of said champressure governor mounted at the upper endoutlet of return' of a refrigerant to and from said chamber comprising a. vertically disposed cylinderforming a lower liquid chamber and upper gas chamber, adjacent to and immediately above said expansion chamber, a manually controlled expansion valve and an automatically actuated admission valve mounted at the lower end of said cylinder and arranged in serial relation for controlling the admission of a liquid" refrigerant to said a liquid chamber, means for con ucting said refrigerant from said liquid chamber to the expansion chamber of the freezer, an exhaust pipe from said expansion chamber discharging into said gas chamber, and an automatic of said cylinder for controlling the exhaust gas from said chamber.

' refrigerant, automatic means for admitting'liquid refrigerant to said I 6. A control of 'the character described in I combination, an accumulator comprising, casing having a liquid refrigerant chamber inthe lower portion thereof, a gaseous refrigerant chamber in the upper portion thereof, an apertured baflle intermediatesaidchambers above the normal liquid level in the 1iquid chamber, meansfor automatically regulating the admission of liquid refrigerant to said lower chamber controlled by the level of liquid insaid chamber and means forautomatically regulating the exhaust of gas from said upper chamber controlled by the pressure in said chamber.

'2'. In a control of the character described, a casing forming a chamber of which the lower portion is adapted to contain liquid liquid level regulating chamber, a connection rom the lower end portion of said chamber to a refrigerating device, a connection from said refrigerating deber, automatic pressure regulating means for permitting the discharge of refrigerant gas from the upper portion of said chamber, and an inclined baffle in said chamber positioned above the normal level of liquid therein and below the connection from said refrigerating device, said baflie having an opening to permit draining any liquid in the upper portion 0% said chamber into the lower portion there- 0 In testimony whereof, I have hereunto afiixed my signature.

JOHN C. SCOVEL, JR.

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